Ribbon trainable around a take-up device and a system deploying such a ribbon

ABSTRACT

A ribbon for an arrangement via which electrical power can be supplied to a load via a suspension member, such as a band or cable, while movement of the load occurs via deliberate winding up of the band or cable onto the drum or sheave or unwinding of the band or cable from the drum or sheave. The ribbon includes an electrical lead portion having one or a plurality of individual electrical leads and a sheath portion. The sheath portion and the electrical lead portion are moveable with respect to each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a ribbon that is windable around, andunwindable from, a drum, a sheave, a spool, or other take-up device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Patent document WO 2014/173528 to Solari discloses a movement device Athat is linked to at least one lighting source I by means of metallicbands 4 for support and movement which allow an up and down movement forthe lighting source. The device A houses all the components for themovement and the power supply to the lighting source 1. The device A isfitted on the ceiling with an anchoring bracket 1 on a housing 2, fittedwith a cover plate 3. A metallic band 4 is preferably of stainless steeland electrically and mechanically connects the device A to the lightingsource 1.

While the arrangement shown in Patent document WO 2014/173528 to Solarimay be satisfactory for a load requiring the provisioning of electricalcurrent, it would also be desirable to provide an arrangement via whichelectrical power can be supplied to a load via a suspension member, suchas a band or cable, while movement of the load occurs in the course ofrelatively frequent cycles of winding up of the band or cable onto thedrum or sheave and unwinding of the band or cable from the drum orsheave. For example, it would be desirable to provide an arrangement viawhich electrical power can be supplied to a load via a suspensionmember, such as a band or cable, while movement of the load occursduring cycles of less than one minute (60 seconds) duration, with eachcomplete cycle involving a winding up of the band or cable onto the drumor sheave and an unwinding of the band or cable from the drum or sheave.

Consequently, there is a need for an arrangement via which electricalpower can be supplied to a load via a suspension member, such as a bandor cable, while movement of the load occurs via deliberate winding up ofthe band or cable onto the drum or sheave or unwinding of the band orcable from the drum or sheave.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a ribbon that is windablearound, and unwindable from, a drum, a sheave, a spool, or other take-updevice.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a ribbon for an arrangementvia which electrical power can be supplied to a load via a suspensionmember, such as a band or cable, while movement of the load occurs viadeliberate winding up of the band or cable onto the drum or sheave orunwinding of the band or cable from the drum or sheave. The ribbonincludes an electrical lead portion having one or a plurality ofindividual electrical leads and a sheath portion. The sheath portion andthe electrical lead portion are moveable with respect to each other.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a system that comprises awinch apparatus for manipulating loads associated with publicperformances, such as performances involving performers and stagingequipment, and in which one or more ribbons are deployed each of whichis windable around, and unwindable from, a drum, a spool, or othertake-up device. In this connection, the ribbon of the present inventioncan be incorporated into a display system that comprises a winchassembly manipulating loads, such as, for example, illuminated orilluminating items, sound or sensory media items, or visual displays.

An advantage of the ribbon of the present disclosure is that the ribboncan interconnect a load requiring a supply of electrical current to anelectrical source and the ribbon, in effecting this interconnectingarrangement, can operate as the sole or only operative connectionbetween a device, such as a drum or sheave, and the load. In thisrespect, the ribbon performs both a load bearing function and anelectrical supply function without the need, for example, of a separatewindable and unwindable member providing a load bearing function and asecond windable and unwindable member providing an electrical supplyfunction. The ribbon can fulfill its dual load bearing and electricalsupply functions both in circumstances in which the load secured to thefree end of the ribbon is not subjected to movement or repositioning(i.e., a static load) and in which the load is subjected to movement orrepositioning. Movement of a load can occur, for example, via adeliberate or inadvertent application of a force against the load or theribbon. Additionally, movement of a load can occur via deliberatewinding up of the ribbon onto the drum or sheave or unwinding of theribbon from the drum or sheave.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary winch arrangement fordeploying the ribbon of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of a portion of theexemplary winch arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of a self-rigid ribbon,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of the ribbon of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front perspective view of an augmented ribbon,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of the ribbon of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view of an augmented ribbon, accordingto an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic view of an augmented ribbon, accordingto an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the non-orientedfiber region of the sheath portion of a ribbon and showing a collectionof non-oriented fibers, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of a woven fiberregion of the sheath portion of a ribbon, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of a knitted fiberregion of the sheath portion of a ribbon, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of a braided fiberregion of the sheath portion of a ribbon, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a front plan schematic view of a prior art trolley system.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of an exemplary winch apparatus formanipulating loads associated with public performances.

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of an exemplary winch assembly fordeploying the ribbon of the present invention.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to represent the same parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough description of the present invention.It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known features have not been described in detailso as not to obscure the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the presently disclosed inventionincludes a winch arrangement 500 for deploying a ribbon 200. FIG. 2shows an exploded front perspective view of a portion of the exemplarywinch arrangement 500 shown in FIG. 1. Ribbon 200, described in greaterdetail below, includes one end mounted to a spool-up sheave 540 that iscomprised in a winch assembly 520. The spool-up sheave 540 is mounted toa drive spindle 560 which is operatively connected to a controllabledrive motor (not shown) for rotative driving of the spool-up sheave 540.While spool-up sheave 540 is shown as a sheave structure, any collectionelement having a suitable peripheral surface and delimiting a collectionelement axis about which the peripheral surface can be moved during atake up operation in which the ribbon 200 is taken up onto theperipheral surface may be used. Ribbon 200 is trained around a receptionsheave 550 at a location relatively proximate to the location at whichribbon 200 runs beyond the outer annular periphery of the spool-upsheave 540. The reception sheave 550 is rotatably mounted on anon-driven spindle and the axis of rotation of the reception sheave 550is parallel to the axis of rotation of the spool-up sheave 540. Thereception sheave 550 includes a center core around a portion of whichthe ribbon 200 is trained and the reception sheave 550 includes a pairof spaced apart annular plates co-axially mounted to the center core atan axial spacing from one another. The spaced apart annular plates eachhave a larger diameter than the center core, whereupon the ribbon 200 asit is trained around a portion of the center core is axiallyintermediate the spaced apart annular plates. In one embodiment, thereception sheave 550 functions as a guide roller, where the ribbon 200is guided onto spool-up sheave 540. In one embodiment, the receptionsheave 550 is a deep groove change of direction sheave structure withtop of slot retainer configured to prevent the ribbon 200 from exitingthe roller while the sheave structure has a radial depth greater thanthe width of the tape so as to permit the tape to freely twist. Ribbon200 also supports a load 205. Load 205 may be any suitable device thatis desirable lowered or lifted. Load 205 is preferably a powered devicethat receives power and/or signal. For example, in one embodiment, load205 may be a light emitting diode (LED) arrangement that is controllableilluminated, for example, as part of visual display or entertainmentelement. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the winch assembly520 is devoid of pinch rollers or other structures that pinch or providecompressive forces to the ribbon 200 prior to the training around thespool-up sheave.

Ribbon 200, according to embodiments of the present disclosure,includes, in one aspect thereof, a ribbon that is windable around, andunwindable from, a drum, a sheave, a spool, or other take-up device. Asdescribed above, while not so limited, one suitable structure onto whichthe ribbon 200 may be windable upon is the spool-up sheave 540 shown inFIG. 1. As used herein, the term “ribbon” is intended to refer to anelongate component that is windable around, and unwindable from, a drum,a spool, or other take-up device. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, theelongate structure of ribbon 200 is characterized by having a lengthdimension EL-L, whereupon a winding up of ribbon 200 on a take-up deviceprogressively reduces the effective length of ribbon 200 as measuredalong its length dimension EL-L and an unwinding of ribbon 200 from atake-up device progressively increases the effective length of ribbon200 as measured along its length dimension EL-L. Ribbon 200 also has awidth dimension EL-W, as measured in a direction perpendicular to itslength dimension EL-L, and a thickness dimension EL-T as measured in adirection perpendicular to its length dimension EL-L and perpendicularto its width dimension EL-W. A “ribbon” suitable for deployment inconnection with the method and apparatus of the present inventionincludes ribbon 200 whose thickness dimension EL-T is no greater thanone-half (50%) of its width dimension EL-W. In some applications, it ispreferable that the elongate component has a thickness dimension EL-T nogreater than one-fourth (25%) of its width dimension EL-W and, in stillother applications, it is preferable that the thickness dimension EL-Tis no greater than one-tenth (10%) of the width dimension EL-W. Althoughsuch a ribbon 200 may be characterized as “flat”, configurations of theribbon of the present invention are not limited to configurations thatcould be characterized as flat, planar, or substantially planar.

In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 3, which is an enlarged frontperspective view of a first designated configuration of ribbon 200, andin FIG. 4, which shows a schematic view of ribbon 200, ribbon 200 may beconfigured in a first designated configuration, hereinafter designatedas the self-rigid ribbon 210, wherein ribbon 200 comprises an electricallead portion 222 having a plurality of individual electrical leads and asheath portion 224. The sheath portion 224 includes a body region and alateral retention fiber arrangement. The lateral retention fiberarrangement of sheath portion 224 may include, for example, non-orientedfibers, woven fibers, knitted fibers, braided fibers, or otherarrangements of fibers that provide lateral position of the electricallead portion along the width direction EL-W. Although the sheath portion224 retains the electrical leads in direction EL-W, the sheath portion224 and the electrical lead portion 222 are moveable with respect toeach other in the length dimension EL-L. Such movement between thesheath portion 224 is such that there may be variable loads across theelectrical lead portions 222, but upon the winding of ribbon 200 ontospool-up sheave 540 (see, for example, FIGS. 1 and 2) or on similarstructures such loads and movement are frozen or otherwise locked intothe structure of ribbon 200 until ribbon 200 is deployed, unwound orotherwise removed from the spool-up sheave 540. Such freezing or lockingof the loads and/or relative positions of the sheath portion 224 andelectrical lead portion 222 is hereafter referred to as “load memory”.Load memory may include a range of freezing or locking of the loadsdepending on the configuration, positioning and operational cycling(e.g., winding/unwinding cycles) of ribbon 200. For example, twist inthe ribbon 200 may be loaded onto the spool-up sheave 540 and may, forexample, temporarily increase the thickness and/or width of ribbon 200,which is wound up onto the spool-up sheave 540 in this modifiedthickness and/or width. In this configuration, the ribbon 200, uponunwinding, exits the spool-up sheave 540 and somewhere along the pay-outtravel, the twist comes out of the ribbon 200 as a result of the loadmemory. In addition, it is possible that the extent of ribbon 200 mayuntwist to some degree due to the radially inward pressure of the laterarriving cable on the spool-up sheave 540 that build up onto the alreadywound extent of the ribbon 200 and/or some “relaxation” may propagatealong the ribbon 200. Such effects are subject to the load memory,wherein the fiber loads, ribbon deformation and/or potential movement ofribbon 200 in the wound position on the spool-up sheave 540 result in atleast a portion of the loads on the sheath portion 224 and electricallead portion 222 being frozen and/or locked sufficient to result inuntwisting or resistance to twisting of ribbon 200 upon the unwinding.

“Locking” or “freezing”, may include a load locking/load memory effectthat results in a range of locking effects upon the winding andunwinding of ribbon 200. For example, the range of locking may extendfrom substantial locking, herein denominated as total locking, such asan extent of a ribbon 200 that experiences no, zero, or substantiallyzero untwisting when such extent of the ribbon 200 is wound up on thespool-up sheave 540 (with a reversal or a cessation of the locking whenthe extent of the ribbon 200 moves as the spool-up sheave 540 is rotatedin an unwinding direction and the extent of the ribbon 200 issubsequently wound out) to minimal locking, such as an extent of aribbon 200 that experiences, in association with the winding up of theextent of the ribbon 200 onto the spool-up sheave 540, a diminishment inthe degree of twist that had been imparted to the extent of the ribbon200, whereupon substantially all of the twist, up to all of the twist,in the extent of the ribbon 200 has ceased after the extent of theribbon 200 has been wound up on the spool-up sheave 540 and before thespool-up sheave 540 is rotated in an unwinding direction.

It is to be understood that, in connection with the twist that may beimparted to an extent of the ribbon 200, the references herein toimparting of a twist, a cessation of the twist, a diminishment of thetwist, or an increase in the twist, are intended to refer twist that wasnot present in the ribbon 200 in its non-deployed or nominal conditionbefore the ribbon 200 had been installed onto the spool-up sheave 540.The principles of the present invention apply equally to the ribbon 200configured in its non-deployed or nominal condition as a ribbon 200 withno original or inherent twist and configured in its non-deployed ornominal condition as a ribbon 200 with no original or inherent twist andconfigured in its non-deployed or nominal condition as a ribbon 200 withoriginal or inherent twist. Also, the present invention contemplatesthat, in the event that certain discrete portions of the ribbon 200 haveoriginal or inherent twist, such as, for example, the sheath portion 224of the ribbon 200, there may be operational situations in which theoriginal or inherent twist of such portion of the ribbon 200 isinfluenced by the winding and unwinding operations, whereupon suchoriginal or inherent twist of such portion of the ribbon 200 maydiminish from its original state or be restored to its original statefrom a diminished state, either in correspondence with similardiminishment or increase in a twist to the ribbon 200 imparted duringthe winding and unwinding operations or, alternatively, independently ofany diminishment or increase in a twist to the ribbon 200 impartedduring the winding and unwinding operations. Additionally, the presentinvention contemplates that, in the event that certain discrete portionsof the ribbon 200 have original or inherent twist, such as, for example,the sheath portion 224 of the ribbon 200, there may be operationalsituations in which the original or inherent twist of such portion ofthe ribbon 200 is not influenced by the winding and unwinding operationsin a manner in which the degree or nature of the twist in this portionof the ribbon 200 is changed while, contrastingly, another portion ofthe ribbon 200 is influenced by the winding and unwinding operations andhas twist imparted to it. In any event, influences on, and changes in,both original or inherent twist of the ribbon 200 and newly introducedtwist that was not present in the ribbon 200 in its non-deployed ornominal condition are to be understood as within the purview of thepresent invention.

A particular feature of this first designated configuration ofself-rigid ribbon 210 is that the component of ribbon 200 that providesthe greatest resistance to flexing or bending of the ribbon 200 about anaxis parallel to its width dimension EL-W is the electrical lead portion222. In other words, the electrical lead portion 222 imparts theproperty to the ribbon 200 of its greatest resistance to flexing orbending of the ribbon 200 about an axis parallel to its width dimensionEL-W and neither the sheath portion nor any other portion of the ribbon200 provide a resistance to flexing or bending of the ribbon 200 aboutan axis parallel to its width dimension EL-W greater than that providedby the electrical lead portion. As best seen in FIG. 3, the electricallead portion imparts the property to the ribbon 200 of resistance toflexing or bending of the ribbon 200 about an axis AX-BEND parallel toits width dimension EL-W.

As seen in FIG. 3, the plurality of individual electrical leads of theelectrical lead portion 222 of ribbon 200 are distributed at generallyuniform spacings from one another along the width dimension EL-W and thefibers of the sheath portion 224 extend circumferentially around theentirety of each electrical lead.

As seen in FIG. 5, which is an enlarged front perspective view of anadditional embodiment of ribbon 200, and in FIG. 6, which shows aschematic view of ribbon 200, ribbon 200 may be configured in a seconddesignated configuration, hereinafter designated as the augmented ribbon310, wherein ribbon 200 comprises an electrical lead portion 222 havinga plurality of individual electrical leads, a sheath portion 224, and anaugmentation portion 326. The augmentation portion 326 may be configuredwith a single unitary cable or a plurality of cables, with the singleunitary cable or the cables being distributed as desired on an outersurface or in the augmented ribbon 310. The augmentation portion 326 maybe the same material as the fibers or sheath portion 224 or may be adifferent material, depending upon the load, stiffness and/or twistingresistance desired. The augmentation portion 326 imparts a resistance toflexing or bending of ribbon 200 about the axis AX-BEND parallel to itswidth dimension EL-W and may impart to ribbon 200 a greater resistanceto flexing or bending of ribbon 200 about the axis AX-BEND than any ofthe other portions of ribbon 200 or may operate in combination with theother portions of ribbon 200 to impart ribbon 200 with a desiredresistance to flexing or bending of ribbon 200 about the axis AX-BEND.In addition to the resistance to flexing or bending, the augmentationportion 326 of augmented ribbon 310 may provide additional load bearing.In one embodiment, the augmented ribbon 310 is moveable with respect tosheath portion 224 and, like the sheath portion 224 and the electricallead portion 222, the augmentation portion 326 may have load memory whenwound on the spool-up sheave 540.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 7,augmentation portion 326 is arranged circumferentially about theelectrical lead portion 222 within the sheath portion 224. In thisembodiment, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, theaugmentation portion 326 imparts a resistance to flexing or bending ofribbon 200 about the axis AX-BEND parallel to its width dimension EL-Wand may impart to ribbon 200 a greater resistance to flexing or bendingof ribbon 200 about the axis AX-BEND than any of the other portions ofribbon 200 or may operate in combination with the other portions ofribbon 200 to impart the ribbon 200 with a desired resistance to flexingor bending of ribbon 200 about the axis AX-BEND. In one embodiment, theaugmentation portion 326 is moveable with respect to sheath portion 224and, like the sheath portion 224 and the electrical lead portion 222,the augmentation portion 326 may have load memory when wound on thespool-up sheave 540.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 8,augmentation portion 326 is arranged parallel to the electrical leadportion 222 within sheath portion 224. In this embodiment, as in theembodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7, the augmentation portion 326 imparts aresistance to flexing or bending of ribbon 200 about the axis AX-BENDparallel to its width dimension EL-W and may impart to ribbon 200 agreater resistance to flexing or bending of ribbon 200 about the axisAX-BEND than any of the other portions of ribbon 200 or may operate incombination with the other portions of ribbon 200 to impart the ribbon200 with a desired resistance to flexing or bending of ribbon 200 aboutthe axis AX-BEND. In one embodiment, the augmentation portion 326parallel to the electrical lead portion is moveable with respect tosheath portion 224. Likewise, the augmentation portion may be moveablewith respect to the electrical lead portion 222 and may independentlybear loads or shear loads with the electrical lead portion 222. Like thesheath portion 224 and the electrical lead portion 222, the augmentationportion 326 may have load memory when wound on the spool-up sheave 540.

The sheath portion 224 of ribbon 200 may be comprised entirely ofsynthetic material, entirely of non-synthetic material, or a combinationof synthetic material and non-synthetic material. For example, in oneembodiment, ribbon 200 may be comprised of one hundred percent polyester(i.e., synthetic) material. Other suitable materials include, but arenot limited to, nylon, aramid fibers or TREVIRA® fibers (available fromTrevira GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany). Other properties of ribbon 200, suchas, for example, elongation properties, tensile strength, resistance tobreakage, weight, size, load bearing capacities and other suitable fiberproperties, can be selected as appropriate for the operationalconditions in which the ribbon 200 will be deployed. The periphery ofthe volume delimited by the fibers 260 of the sheath portion 224 (see,for example, FIGS. 9-12) is bounded by the body region of the bodyportion of the ribbon 200 and this body region includes a materialcomposition that serves to retain the fibers of the sheath portion 224and the electrical leads in the prescribed relationship to one another.In addition, the sheath portion 224 is preferably a fire-retardantmaterial. As noted above, in one embodiment, the sheath portion 224permits relative movement or motion of the sheath portion 224,electrical lead portion 222, and, when present, the augmentation portion326 with respect to one another.

In one embodiment according to the present disclosure, the fibers 260 insheath portion 224 are in a non-oriented configuration. FIG. 9 shows anenlarged schematic view of an arrangement of fibers 260 that make up thesheath portion 224 or ribbon 200. In this embodiment, the sheath portionincludes a collection 250 of non-oriented fibers 260—i.e., the fibershave not been purposefully handled or treated to promote longitudinalalignment of the fibers. Also shown in FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematicview of an area of the collection 250 of non-oriented fibers 260 showinga plurality of synthetic fibers 262 and a plurality of non-syntheticfibers 264 interspersed with one another into a mat arrangementproviding sufficient structure to laterally support the electrical leadportion 222.

In another embodiment according to the present disclosure, the fibers260 in sheath portion 224 are in a woven configuration. As shown in FIG.10, fibers 260 are arranged in an overlapping, woven pattern thatprovides sufficient structure to laterally support the electrical leadportion 222. While a specific woven pattern is shown in FIG. 10, thesheath portion 224 is not so limited and any suitable overlapping wovenpattern may be utilized. The woven configuration is arranged primarilyfor lateral support and, in one embodiment, provides little or nolongitudinal support of the load.

In another embodiment according to the present disclosure, the fibers260 in sheath portion 224 are in a knitted configuration. As shown inFIG. 11, fibers 260 are arranged in an looped, knitted pattern thatprovides sufficient structure to laterally support the electrical leadportion 222. While a specific knitted pattern is shown in FIG. 11, thesheath portion 224 is not so limited and any suitable looped, knittedpattern may be utilized. The knitted configuration is arranged primarilyfor lateral support and, in one embodiment, and provides little or nolongitudinal support of the load.

In another embodiment according to the present disclosure, the fibers260 in sheath portion 224 are in a braided configuration. As shown inFIG. 12, fibers 260 are arranged in a braided pattern that providessufficient structure to laterally support the electrical lead portion222. While a specific braided pattern is shown in FIG. 12, the sheathportion 224 is not so limited and any suitable braided pattern may beutilized. The braided configuration is arranged primarily for lateralsupport and, in one embodiment, provides little or no longitudinalsupport of the load.

Electrical lead portion 222 of ribbon 200 may be comprised of anysuitable electrically conductive materials, such as copper, aluminum, orother conductive materials. In other embodiments, electrical leadportion 222 may include non-electrically conductive material, such asfiber optic materials or other signal transmitting materials suitablefor providing signals to the load.

In operation, ribbon 200 is subjected to varying flexural stress andvarying tensile stress. The direction and magnitude of each of thesestresses is a function of rate and frequency of acceleration ordeceleration of the ribbon 200 as it is respectively paid out (unwound)from the drum or sheave on which it is wound or as it is wound onto thedrum or sheave, the mass and geometry of the load secured to the freeend of the ribbon 200, any lateral forces applied to the load as it ismoved via the ribbon 200, and other factors, such as materialcomposition of the ribbon 200.

Twisting, folding, or other torsional effects on ribbon 200 may occur asthe ribbon 200 is unwound or wound relative to the drum or sheave. In acommon winding-up scenario in which the ribbon 200 is wound onto thedrum or sheave, each successive increment of the ribbon 200 is woundonto increments of the ribbon 200 that have already been built up uponstill other increments of the ribbon 200 previously wound onto the drumor sheave and it is often preferred that these built-up windings of theribbon 200 exhibit the minimum possible degree of twisting, which inthis circumstance is to be understood as a condition of the ribbon 200wherein an edge portion of the ribbon 200 extends outwardly of the planedelimited by the length dimension EL-L and the width dimension EL-Wbeyond a predetermined magnitude. While the applicant does not wish tobe bound to a particular theory, it is believed that, in somecircumstances, the degree of twisting can be minimized or, conversely, adegree of twisting of the ribbon 200 can be permitted, via configuringribbon 200 with a relatively flat profile and with a materialcomposition that permits limited elongation of the sheath portion,limited internal displacement of fibers of the sheath portion, andlimited freedom of individual electrical leads relative to adjacentelectrical leads. In one embodiment, the relative movement or motionbetween the sheath portion 224, the electrical lead portion 222 and, ifpresent, the augmentation portion 326, permits load memory over repeatedwinding and unwinding cycles. That is, upon winding and unwinding ofribbon 200, the individual vertical loads across the length of ribbon200 on the electrical lead portion 222 and/or the augmentation portion326 are saved when ribbon 200 is wound on the drum or sheave. Forexample, each of the electrical lead portions 222 across the width EL-Wwill have an individual load resulting from the load configuration andpositioning. The individual load will be saved upon winding and, whenunwound, ribbon 200 releases the stored loads and balances the loaddistribution, permitting the system to lower (or raise) the load withlittle or no twisting, folding, or other torsional effects on ribbon200. In one embodiment, the load memory results in a substantiallytwist-free unwinding upon a plurality of winding and unwinding cycles ofribbon 200 upon a sheave structure. The load memory effect increaseswith the number of windings and unwindings of ribbon 200. For example,in one embodiment at least about 25 winding/unwinding cycles or at leastabout 50 winding/unwinding cycles or at least about 75 winding/unwindingcycles results in the load memory effect.

Ribbon 200 may be incorporated into a system that comprises a winchapparatus for manipulating loads associated with public performances,such as performances involving performers and staging equipment. Also,ribbon 200 may be incorporated into a display system that comprises awinch assembly manipulating loads 205, such as, for example, illuminatedor illuminating items, sound or sensory media items, or visual displays.In each such installation, winch assembly 520 having ribbon 200 of thepresent invention may be comprised of a base and a housing operativelyconnected to the base. The housing includes a rotatably movable drumconfigured to extend/retract the ribbon 200, a motor for rotatablymoving the drum, and a controller for controlling the motor.

In one embodiment according to the present disclosure, ribbon 200 mayadvantageously be deployed in a known trolley system 100 described inU.S. Pat. No. 9,026,269 to Cross et al., which is incorporated byreference in its entirety. FIG. 15 shows a front plan schematic view ofthe trolley system 100 of U.S. Pat. No. 9,026,269 to Cross et al. U.S.Pat. No. 9,026,269 to Cross et al. notes that the therein describedtrolley system 100 can include at least one support member 102, at leastone trolley or carriage 104, at least one load 106, at least one travelpositioning mechanism 112, at least one lift positioning mechanism 123,at least one lift line 110 and at least one automation and motioncontrol system 116 to control the operation of the system 100, includingthe travel positioning mechanism 112 and the lift positioning mechanism123. The system 100 can position and reposition a load 106 in atwo-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) space according to acontrol algorithm executed by the control system 116 by moving thetrolley 104 along the support member 102 and by moving the lift line 110by the lift positioning mechanism 123.

According to U.S. Pat. No. 9,026,269 to Cross et al., the support member102 can be a beam or other suitable member, such as a track, rail, trussor pipe, that can provide structural support for the trolley or carriage104 (or a suspended shuttle or cart or tram or any other apparatus thatcan move along the support member 102 and support the load 106). In anexemplary embodiment, according to U.S. Pat. No. 9,026,269 to Cross etal., the support member 102 can be mounted above the performance area ofa live performance or event, e.g., a sporting event, a concert or atheatrical/religious performance, or a movie or television production.The system 100 can include multiple support members 102 mounted atvarious angles (e.g., between about 0 degrees and about 45 degrees)relative to the performance area or mounted at various angles (e.g.,between about 0 degrees and about 45 degrees) relative to each other.The multiple support members 102 can have any suitable arrangement orconfiguration including stacked, parallel, or intersecting.

The trolley system 100 described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,026,269 to Cross etal. is disclosed as being operable to position and reposition a load 106relative to the performance area and it is noted that suitable loadsinclude, but are not limited to, performers, equipment, instruments,props, lights, lighting systems, cameras, scenery, sets, microphones, orspeakers.

In one embodiment, the trolley or carriage 104 can have one or moretravel positioning mechanisms or drive mechanisms 112 mounted on orincorporated in the trolley or carriage 104 to move the trolley orcarriage 104. The travel positioning mechanism or drive mechanism 112can be powered either directly from a wireless power source, e.g., aninductive power transfer system, or from batteries or otherenergy-storing devices charged by the wireless power source. Whenactuated or engaged, the travel positioning mechanism(s) 112 can adjustthe position, speed, and acceleration or deceleration of the trolley orcarriage 104 along the support member 102.

According to U.S. Pat. No. 9,026,269 to Cross et al., the lift line 110can be an elongate member, such as cable, rope, cord, band, chain-linksor hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. The lift line 110 can be used toprovide motion and positioning to the load 106. The lift line 110 isconnected to the load 106 and to the lift positioning mechanism 123mounted to the trolley or carriage 104. The lift positioning mechanism123 controls the lift line 110 to adjust the position, speed, andacceleration or deceleration of the load 106 relative to the carriage104.

The lift positioning mechanism 123 controls the lift line 110substantially simultaneously with the travel positioning mechanism 112controlling the movement of trolley or carriage 104, to permit load 106to be positioned and repositioned as carriage 104 is positioned andrepositioned along support member 102. In one embodiment, the liftpositioning mechanism 123 can be an automated device, such as a variablecontrol or computer controlled winch, chain hoist, lift or elevator.

According to U.S. Pat. No. 9,026,269 to Cross et al., in one embodiment,the trolley or carriage 104 can include a cart 118 and a load mount 122.The cart 118 may include a plurality of wheels or rollers 126, at leastone of which is driven by the travel positioning mechanism 112. A cartframe 124 can include a load mounting member connection 132 positionedproximal to the load 106. The plurality of wheels or rollers 126 canengage, roll, and/or slide along an engagement surface 134 of thesupport member 102, enabling the cart 118 and carriage 104 to move alongthe support member 102.

A deployment of ribbon 200, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, in the trolley system 100 described in U.S. Pat. No.9,026,269 to Cross et al., as has been described with respect to FIG. 13of the present application, would involve the deployment of the ribbon200 as the lift line 110, whereupon the ribbon 200 would have one endfixedly mounted to the lift positioning mechanism 123, which could be,for example, a fixed mounting of the one end of the ribbon 200 to arotating drum of the lift positioning mechanism 123 having an outerannular surface onto which the ribbon is wound. An opposite end of theribbon 200 would be mounted to the load 106. In the event that the load106 comprises a component that draws an electrical current, such as, forexample, an illuminated item in the form of light emitting diodes (LED),then the electrical leads embedded in the ribbon 200 would beoperatively connected to this component. A supply of electrical currentcan then flow through the electrical leads of the ribbon 200 to the load106 and, in this connection, a suitable electrical source (not shown)can be operatively connected to the lift positioning mechanism 123 forsupplying electrical current to the ribbon 200.

In another embodiment according to the present disclosure, winchassembly 520 is incorporated into a movable visual display system. FIG.14 shows a front perspective view of a moveable visual display system400 that comprises a winch apparatus for manipulating loads associatedwith public performances, such as performances involving performers andstaging equipment. A plurality of winch assemblies 520 are configured toeach independently raise and lower a respective one of a plurality ofindividual loads 205, each of which is exemplarily shown as being anilluminated item 450 in the form of light emitting diodes (LED) retainedin a transparent container. Each winch assembly 520 may be configured asa base and a housing operatively connected to the base with the housingincluding a rotatably movable drum configured to extend/retract a singleunit of the ribbon 200, a motor for rotatably moving the drum, and acontroller for controlling the motor. Each winch assembly 520 iscontrolled via a suitable control arrangement (not shown) to selectivelyraise or lower the respective illuminated item 450 while electricalpower is continuously or intermittently supplied to the LEDs of theilluminated item 450.

As shown in FIG. 14, winch assemblies 520 are suitably fixedly mountedto an underside of a truss 452 and the truss 452, in turn, is suspendedfrom a fixed structure, such as, for example, an interior supportstructure of a building (not shown) via a pair of truss positioningassemblies 456 that are directly mounted to the interior supportstructure of the building. Each truss positioning assembly 456 isoperable to extend/retract a truss support cable 454 each having one endmounted to a top side of the truss 452.

Reference is now had to FIG. 15, which is a front perspective view of afurther exemplary winch arrangement for deploying the ribbon 200 of thepresent invention. A spool-up sheave 540 is operable to wind up theribbon 200. Ribbon 200 travels between a pair of guide structures 680,682 which form a guide gap 686 therebetween that is, for example, anorder of magnitude greater than the thickness of ribbon 200. In thisembodiment, ribbon 200 is not trained along either of the guidestructures 680, 682 but may contact one or both of these guidestructures 680, 682 as the ribbon 200 is wound onto the spool-up sheave540. The guide gap 686 between the guide structures 680, 682 is sized topermit the ribbon 200 to undergo a predetermined degree of flexure ortwisting during its passage therethrough. In another embodiment, guidestructure 680, 682 are arranged to provide a guide gap that guides theribbon 200 onto the peripheral surface of the spool-up sheave and/oronto an already taken-up extent of the ribbon 200. Guide gap 686 is anysuitable dimension that permits passage of ribbon 200 in a guided mannerwherein ribbon 200 is not subjected to pinching or compressive forces.While guide structure 680, 682 are shown as a pair of structures, anysuitable number and any suitable configuration of guide structures maybe utilized.

While the invention has been described with reference to one or moreembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims. In addition, all numerical values identified in the detaileddescription shall be interpreted as though the precise and approximatevalues are both expressly identified.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ribbon for an arrangement via which electricalpower can be supplied to a load via a suspension member such as a bandor cable while movement of the load occurs via deliberate winding up ofthe band or cable onto the drum or sheave or unwinding of the band orcable from the drum or sheave, the ribbon comprising: an electrical leadportion having one or a plurality of individual electrical leads; and asheath portion; wherein the sheath portion and the electrical leadportion are moveable with respect to each other and the movabilitybetween the sheath portion and the electrical lead portion aresufficient to impart load memory upon winding of the ribbon upon asheave structure.
 2. The ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the sheathportion includes fibers arranged in a configuration selected from thegroup consisting of a non-oriented configuration, a woven pattern, aknitted pattern, a braided pattern, and combinations thereof.
 3. Theribbon according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon is elongate and has awidth dimension EL-W, as measured in a direction perpendicular to itslength dimension EL-L, and a thickness dimension EL-T as measured in adirection perpendicular to its length dimension EL-L and perpendicularto its width dimension EL-W and the thickness dimension EL-T is nogreater than one-half (50%) of its width dimension EL-W.
 4. The ribbonaccording to claim 1, wherein the ribbon is elongate and has a widthdimension EL-W, as measured in a direction perpendicular to its lengthdimension EL-L, and a thickness dimension EL-T as measured in adirection perpendicular to its length dimension EL-L and perpendicularto its width dimension EL-W and has a thickness dimension EL-T nogreater than one-fourth (25%) of its width dimension EL-W and, in stillother applications, it is preferable that the thickness dimension EL-Tis no greater than one-tenth (10%) of the width dimension EL-W.
 5. Theribbon according to claim 1, wherein the load memory results in asubstantially twist-free unwinding upon at least 25 cycles of windingand unwinding of the ribbon upon a sheave structure.
 6. The ribbonaccording to claim 1, further comprising an augmentation portionarranged and disposed to provide resistance to bending and load support.7. The ribbon according to claim 6, wherein the augmentation portion isarranged along the peripheral edge of the ribbon adjacent to the sheathportion.
 8. The ribbon according to claim 6, wherein the augmentationportion is arranged circumferentially around the electrical lead portionwithin the sheath portion.
 9. The ribbon according to claim 6, whereinthe augmentation portion is arranged adjacent to the electrical leadportion within the sheath portion.
 10. The ribbon according to claim 6,wherein the augmentation portion is moveable with respect to the sheathportion.